Not-so-drastic Dave: Diageo boss defies expectations of slash-and-burn reign February 25, 2026 ‘Drastic Dave’ Lewis, who gained a reputation for cost-cutting and ruthless rationalisation during his time at Unilever and Tesco, was more ‘demure Dave’ when announcing Diageo’s first results of his tenure as chief executive. The spirits giant has been struggling in recent years, with its share price down 22 per cent year-on-year – and Lewis’ [...]
Has spring arrived? The weather tomorrow shows drastic change February 25, 2026 The blue skies and 16 degree temperatures have temporarily inspired Londoners to get outside and enjoy the parks for the first time this year. It has been a welcome respite from the wind and rain, although the latest data from the Met Office suggests that this pocket of sun isn’t going to last, with the [...]
The next shift isn’t about space. It’s about service. February 25, 2026 If 2026 is the year the office market resets, the next question is simple: where does the value actually come from? The answer isn’t square footage. It’s operations. For years, offices were treated as static assets. Build it, lease it, collect the rent. That model worked when capital was cheap and occupiers were less demanding. [...]
Ratcliffe’s Ineos could sell off assets as chemicals sector struggles February 25, 2026 Ineos is reportedly considering selling off parts of its business, as the chemicals giant attempts to shore up its finances amid a wider industry downturn. The firm founded and chaired by Jim Ratcliffe has held preliminary talks about selling off parts of its vinyls business Inovyn, Europe’s largest producer of PVC, a plastic widely used [...]
St James’s Places shares jump as firm reports record funds under management February 25, 2026 St James’s Place saw funds under management reach record highs in its latest results, as more people choose to plough money into the UK’s leading wealth manager. Funds under management jumped 16 per cent to a record £220bn, up from £190.2bn the prior year, as the group attracted new clients and kept retention rates high. [...]
Ascensia Diabetes Care Appoints Peter Bodlund as President and Chief Executive Officer February 25, 2026 Ascensia Diabetes Care, a global diabetes care company and subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE: 6523), today announced the appointment of Peter Bodlund as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026. He succeeds Koichiro Sato, who will continue in his roles as Chief Operating Officer of PHC Group and Head of PHC Group’s [...]
Bureau Veritas: Sector-Leading Organic Revenue Growth of 6.5% in FY 2025 February 25, 2026 Strong margin improvement to 16.3% in FY 2025 Positive growth outlook with continued margin expansion in 2026 New EUR 200 million share buyback
Accountancy firms face margin squeeze as AI disrupts compliance services February 25, 2026 Most UK accountancy firms admit margins on traditional compliance services are under pressure from automation, as professional services firms rethink strategies in the age of AI. According to a report shared exclusively with City AM by Ravical, while most British firms believe margins have increased over the last three years, the majority (63 per cent) [...]
Low-key Spring Statement still poses risks for Rachel Reeves February 25, 2026 Just under a week from now the Chancellor will stand up and deliver the Spring Statement. We aren’t expecting any fireworks, not least because Rachel Reeves has made it clear that she only wants to preside over one major fiscal event a year, and that’s the Autumn Budget. Nevertheless, next Wednesday still has the potential [...]
Small business minister: we will unlock £1bn of local lending February 25, 2026 Community Development Finance gives small local business the funding and confidence they need to grow. That’s why this Labour government is launching a taskforce to expand the sector, say Blair McDougall and Bob Annibale The UK has long been home to an entrepreneurial spirit of creativity and innovation, from household names to neighbourhood heroes. Despite [...]